Encounter at Cold Harbor by Gilbert L. Morris Read Free Book Online

wagon?”
    All afternoon the two drove down country lanes, stopping at farmhouses, and as Jeff had said, food was easier to buy from farmers than from stores.
    It was toward the end of the afternoon when Jeff put into the wagon the last of the fresh corn Leah had managed to buy. He said, “Well, it’s getting late. And I guess I better get back to camp.”
    Leah had softened somewhat during the afternoon, and some hint of the old relationship she had with Jeff seemed to be coming back. “I guess I’d better be getting home too.”
    “I wish I could go with you, but they might post me as a deserter.”
    “Oh, they wouldn’t do that. Not with you being the colonel’s son.”
    “I guess not.” Jeff grinned. “Here, let me help you into the wagon.”
    Leah seemed surprised. She took his hand, however, and as she climbed in, he squeezed it.
    Then he walked around and clambered up to sit beside her. Taking up the lines, he said, “Get up, boys!” He turned to Leah and asked, “So my baby sister’s doing all right?”
    “She’s fine, Jeff. She’s the best little girl that there ever was. I know Ma and Sarah and Morena are missing her like everything. And Pa too. He really dotes on her.”
    The horses’ hooves made a plodding sound and raised the dust as they went along the road toward camp. Far overhead, a flock of red-winged blackbirds made their noisy way to alight in a cornfield. Watching them, Jeff said, “You remember the timewe shot a bunch of red-winged blackbirds, and you cooked ’em up, and we ate ’em?”
    Leah smiled. “I remember. It was out at the foot of Little Mountain. Also we stayed out too long, and your pa sent Tom to get us. I think that was one of the few times my pa ever paddled me.”
    “You shoulda got what I got.” Jeff winced. “Pa didn’t look kindly on that.”
    They rode along slowly as the sun sank. A cool breeze sprang up, and Jeff took off his hat and put it on the seat between them. “I wish we were back in Kentucky, and this whole war had never come along.”
    “So do I. But I guess people everywhere in this country are wishing that.”
    “Well, maybe after this next battle it’ll all be over.”
    “I hope so,” Leah said.
    When they reached camp, Jeff got out of Leah’s wagon and handed the lines to her. “You may have some company pretty soon, Leah. I forgot to tell you. Pa’s trying to hire a lady to come out and help you take care of Esther.”
    “Why, I don’t need any help!”
    “I know you can take care of her good, but two of you would be better. If one of you had to go to town, don’t you see? It would be easier than trying to find a neighbor to help out—like today.”
    “I suppose that’s true.”
    Jeff hesitated. “Were you thinkin’ of going back to Kentucky?”
    Leah glanced quickly at him. “I’m not going until I’m sure Esther has good care.”
    Jeff grinned suddenly. “That’s good.” He stood by the wagon for a few more moments. “I’d hate tosee you go back,” he said awkwardly. “I missed you.”
    “You didn’t miss me very much, Jeff! You had Lucy to keep you company!”
    Jeff’s face clouded. The specter of Lucy Driscoll again. “For crying out loud, Leah! Are you never going to forget about that? I just took her to an old minstrel show!”
    “That wasn’t the only time you took her somewhere, was it?” she said sharply.
    Jeff kicked at a clod of dirt and kept his head down. “Well, a fella’s got to do something.”
    “Well, you just go ahead, Jeff, and do something! See if I care!”
    He turned away abruptly, and Leah spoke to the horses, who lunged against their collars. The two parted, Jeff feeling about as bad as he could. He wondered,
Why did she have to act like that?
    Nelson Majors looked up. The corporal on guard duty was standing just inside the tent door.
    “There’s a lady here to see you, sir.”
    “Well, show her in, Corporal.”
    “Yes, sir.”
    The colonel put down the book he had been reading.